Roller shutter type storage container

ABSTRACT

A roller shutter type storage container includes a container body, a roller shutter accommodating portion, a pair of guide grooves, and a roller shutter. Each of the guide grooves extends linearly in an opening of the container body and is curved in the roller shutter accommodating portion. The roller shutter is configured by connecting a plurality of slats each having shafts formed in the widthwise direction at two ends of the slat in a bendable manner. As the two shafts slide in the corresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter slides between an open position and a close position. Each one of the shafts is spaced from a vertical wall surface of the corresponding one of the guide grooves. A projection formed of soft material projects outward from each shaft of each slat in the widthwise direction and contacts the corresponding vertical wall surface in an elastically deformed state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roller shutter type storage containerhaving an opening in a container body that is selectively opened andclosed by sliding a roller shutter in guide grooves.

A roller shutter type storage container may be used as a storagecontainer mounted in a center console of a vehicle. Refer to JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Publications No. 2003-90186 and No. 2002-87167. Theroller shutter type storage container includes a container body, aroller shutter accommodating portion, a pair of guide grooves, and aroller shutter. The container body has an upper opening. Objects oritems may be placed in or removed from the storage container through theopening. The roller shutter accommodating portion accommodates theroller shutter at an unobtrusive position. The roller shutteraccommodating portion is arranged in the exterior of the container bodyand at a position adjacent to the container body. The guide grooves areformed on both sides of the container body and the opening of the bodyin the widthwise direction of the container body. Specifically, thewidthwise direction is a direction perpendicular to the arrangementdirection of the container body and the roller shutter accommodatingportion. Each of the guide grooves is defined by a vertical wall surfaceextending substantially perpendicular to the widthwise direction and apair of opposing lateral wall surfaces extending substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical wall surface. At the opening, each guidegroove extends linearly as a whole. In contrast, in the roller shutteraccommodating portion, at least a portion of the guide groove is curvedin such a manner as to minimize the accommodating space for the rollershutter.

The roller shutter has a plurality of slats, which are arranged in thearrangement direction of the container body and the roller shutteraccommodating portion. Each adjacent pair of the slats is connectedtogether in a bendable manner. A shaft is provided at either end of eachof the slat in the widthwise direction and extends outward in thewidthwise direction. By sliding the shafts of each slat in thecorresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter is moved between an openposition, at which the roller shutter is accommodated in the rollershutter accommodating portion to open the opening, and a close position,at which the roller shutter extends out from the roller shutteraccommodating portion to close the opening.

Each of the shafts includes a projection formed of soft material, whichprojects toward at least one of the upper and lower lateral wallsurfaces. The projection is referred to as a “contact portion” inJapanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-90186 and a “bumperportion” in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-87167. Eachone of the projections is joined to the corresponding one of the shaftsat the two ends of the projection in the arrangement direction of thecontainer body and the roller shutter accommodating portion. Eachprojection is formed in an arcuate shape in such a manner as to becomemore spaced from the corresponding shaft as the distance from the endsof the projection increases, and most spaced from the shaft at themiddle position of the projection. The projections contact thecorresponding lateral wall surface of the guide groove in an elasticallydeformed manner.

In the above-described roller shutter type storage container, theopening is selectively opened and closed by sliding the roller shutterbetween the open position and the close position. During this, the twoshafts of each slat slide in the guide grooves. In other words, when theshafts slide in the guide grooves while being guided by the guidegrooves, the roller shutter is caused to slide to selectively open andclose the opening. Sliding resistance is produced between eachprojection and the corresponding lateral wall surface when the rollershutter slides, thus causing load on sliding operation of the rollershutter, which is operational load. The operational load is a factorthat greatly influences operational sensation when the roller shutter isoperated and is thus important.

In the conventional roller shutter type storage container in which theprojections of the shafts project toward the corresponding lateral wallsurface, each projection must deform to follow the shape of the curvedportion of the corresponding guide groove when passing through thecurved portion. This correspondingly increases the sliding resistancegenerated between the projection and the lateral wall surface comparedto the sliding resistance produced when the shaft proceeds in the linearportion of the guide groove. As a result, even though the slidingresistance between each projection and the corresponding guide groove isappropriate in the linear portion of the guide groove, the slidingresistance becomes excessively great in the curved portion of the guidegroove.

The operational load thus increases when the shafts slide in the curvedportions of the guide grooves in the roller shutter accommodatingportion, compared to when the shafts slide in the linear portions of theguide grooves in the opening. This deteriorates the operationalsensation. The operational load becomes even greater as the number ofshafts sliding in the curved portions of the guide grooves increased,or, in other words, as the opening becomes greater.

Also, the sliding resistance in the curved portion of each guide groovebecomes greater as the radius of curvature of the curved portion becomesgreater, or, in other words, as the curved portion curves to a greaterextent. As a result, the operational sensation is deteriorated with moresignificance in the guide grooves having a greater radius of curvature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide aroller shutter type storage container that improves operationalsensation by stabilizing operational load, which is caused when a rollershutter is operated to slide, regardless of shaft positions in guidegrooves.

To achieve the foregoing objective and in accordance with one aspect ofthe present invention, a roller shutter type storage container isprovided that includes a container body having an opening, a rollershutter accommodating portion arranged along a first direction so as tobe adjacent to the container body, a pair of guide grooves, and a rollershutter. The guide grooves are formed in the opening of the containerbody and the roller shutter accommodating portion at both sides in thewidthwise direction, which is a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction. Each of the guide grooves forms a straight shape in theopening. At least a portion of each guide groove is curved in the rollershutter accommodating portion. The guide grooves extend along the firstdirection. A roller shutter is guided by the two guide grooves. Theroller shutter includes a plurality of slats arranged along the firstdirection and connected together in a bendable manner. Each of the slatshas two ends in the second direction and shafts at the ends. As theshafts of each of the slats slide in the corresponding guide grooves,the roller shutter slides between an open position, at which the rollershutter is accommodated in the roller shutter accommodating portion toopen the opening, and a close position, at which the roller shutterextends out from the roller shutter accommodating portion to close theopening. Each of the guide grooves has a vertical wall surface extendingin a direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction. Eachone of the shafts is spaced from the corresponding one of the verticalwall surfaces. The shafts of at least some of the slats have projectionsformed of soft material and projecting outward along the seconddirection. Each of the projections is held in contact with thecorresponding vertical wall surface in an elastically deformed state.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a rollershutter type storage container is provided that includes a containerbody having an opening, a roller shutter accommodating portion arrangedalong first direction so as to be adjacent to the container body, a pairof guide grooves, and a roller shutter. The guide grooves are formed inthe opening of the container body and the roller shutter accommodatingportion at both sides in the widthwise direction, which is a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the guidegrooves forms a straight shape in the opening. At least a portion ofeach guide groove is curved in the roller shutter accommodating portion.The guide grooves extend along the first direction. A roller shutter isguided by the two guide grooves. The roller shutter includes a pluralityof slats arranged along the first direction and connected together in abendable manner. Each of the slats having two ends in the seconddirection and shafts at the ends. As the shafts of each of the slatsslide in the corresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter slidesbetween an open position, at which the roller shutter is accommodated inthe roller shutter accommodating portion to open the opening, and aclose position, at which the roller shutter extends out from the rollershutter accommodating portion to close the opening. The roller shutterhas an ornamental surface with respect to the thickness direction. Eachadjacent pair of the slats is connected together through a hinge. Thehinges are located between the shafts of the slats and the ornamentalsurface. A rib formed of soft material is arranged between each one ofthe slats and at least one of the two adjacent slats, the ribrestricting movement of the shafts of the corresponding slats.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description of the presentlypreferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a roller shutter type storagecontainer as a whole according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing main components of theroller shutter type storage container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 3,which includes, specifically, a slat, a shaft, and a projection;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views each showing a portion of theroller shutter type storage container of the first embodiment toillustrate dimensions of different components;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the shape of a guide groove of thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing the portion B of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a portion of the firstembodiment, which includes a rod-like projection that elasticallydeforms and slides on a vertical wall surface of the guide groove;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view corresponding to FIG. 7, showing aroller shutter type storage container according to a second embodimentof the present invention, specifically, showing a portion including aslat, a shaft, and a projection;

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a portion of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10B is a side view showing a portion of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a portion of the secondembodiment, which includes a projection that elastically deforms andslides on a vertical wall surface of a guide groove;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a roller shutter typestorage container according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically, showing the relationship between a guide grooveand a slat;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a roller shutter type storagecontainer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,specifically showing a roller shutter as viewed from below;

FIG. 14 is a plan view, with a part cut away, showing the fourthembodiment with a portion of a roller shutter omitted;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing the portion C of FIG.13;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the fourthembodiment to represent the relationship between an upper surface of acover (an ornamental panel) and an ornamental surface of the rollershutter;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a comparativeexample in which hinges and shafts are arranged in middle portions inthe thickness direction of a roller shutter, showing the relationshipbetween the position of an upper surface of a cover (an ornamentalpanel) and the position of an ornamental surface of the roller shutter;

FIG. 19 is a side view showing a portion of the roller shutter of thefourth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 19, showing a portion of aroller shutter of a modification in which ribs are provided only inspaces between hinges and shaft axes in the thickness direction of theroller shutter;

FIG. 21 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 19, or, specificallyshowing a portion of a roller shutter of another modification in whichribs are each formed in the space between each slat and one of itsadjacent slats;

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a portion of a modification of a rollershutter in which ribs are formed at positions different fromcorresponding positions in the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a portion of a modification of a rollershutter in which ribs are formed at positions different fromcorresponding positions in the fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of a roller shutter type storage container accordingto the present invention, which is mounted in a center console of avehicle, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. For thedescription below, the proceeding (advancing) direction of the vehicleis defined as the forward direction and the reverse direction of thevehicle is defined as the rearward direction.

A center console is arranged on the floor at a position between thedriver's seat and the adjacent passenger seat in a vehicle. Operationalportions such as a shift lever and a parking brake lever are provided inthe center console. A roller shutter type storage container 10, which isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is also mounted in the center console.

The roller shutter type storage container 10 includes a container body11, a roller shutter accommodating portion 13, a pair of guide grooves22, and a roller shutter 14.

The container body 11 accommodates, for example, drink containers orsmall objects and has an elongated shape extending in a forward-rearwarddirection. The container body 11 has an opening 12 formed at the upperend of the container body 11 (FIG. 5B). Small items and the like areplaced in and removed from the container body 11 through the opening 12.

The roller shutter accommodating portion 13 accommodates the rollershutter 14 at an unobtrusive position when the opening 12 is open. Inthe first embodiment, the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 isarranged behind the container body 11 at a position adjacent to thecontainer body 11. In other words, the roller shutter accommodatingportion 13 and the container body 11 are arranged adjacent to each otheralong a first direction.

The guide grooves 22 are formed in the opening 12 of the container body11 and the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 at both sides in thewidthwise direction as a second direction, which is the direction of thewidth of the vehicle. The widthwise direction as the second direction isa direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the containerbody 11 and the roller shutter accommodating portion 13. In other words,the widthwise direction is a direction perpendicular to the firstdirection. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5B, the inner wall surfaces ofeach of the guide grooves 22 includes a vertical wall surface 23extending substantially perpendicular to the widthwise direction and apair of opposing lateral wall surfaces 24 each extending substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical wall surface 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a portion of each guide groove 22 in theopening 12 is shaped differently from a portion of the guide groove 22in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13. The portion of the guidegroove 22 in the opening 12 is substantially as a whole shaped linearly.This portion of the guide groove 22 will hereafter be referred to as a“linear portion 25”. The two lateral wall surfaces 24 of each guidegroove 22 oppose each other in the opening 12 in the upward-downwarddirection. The vertical wall surface 23 and the lateral wall surfaces 24of each guide groove 22 extend linearly along the arrangement directionof the container body 11 and the roller shutter accommodating portion13, or, in other words, the forward-rearward direction.

Contrastingly, the portion of each guide groove 22 in the roller shutteraccommodating portion 13 is curved by a comparatively great radius ofcurvature in such a manner as to minimize the accommodating spaceoccupied by the roller shutter 14. Specifically, the portion of theguide groove 22 in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 is curvedsubstantially as a whole. The portion of the guide groove 22 in theroller shutter accommodating portion 13 forms a substantially annularshape as a whole. This portion of each guide groove 22 will hereafter bereferred to as a “curved portion 26”. In the roller shutteraccommodating portion 13, the two lateral wall surfaces 24 are curved asfaced to each other in a radial direction.

The vertical wall surfaces 23 of each guide groove 22 are shaped flatboth in the opening 12 and the roller shutter accommodating portion 13.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the roller shutter 14 has a pluralityof slats 15, which are arranged along the arrangement direction of thecontainer body 11 and the roller shutter accommodating portion 13, whichis the forward-rearward direction. Each of the slats 15 has a laterallyelongated shape extending in the widthwise direction. A hinge 17 havinga thickness smaller than the thickness of each slat 15 and extending inthe widthwise direction is arranged between each adjacent pair of theslats 15 (FIG. 7). Each adjacent pair of the slats 15 are connectedtogether in a bendable manner through the corresponding one of thehinges 17.

Shafts 16 each extending in the corresponding guide groove 22 outward inthe widthwise direction are formed at both ends of the slats 15 in thewidthwise direction. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, each shaft 16 ofeach slat 15 has a columnar shape and is slidably arranged in thecorresponding guide groove 22. The outer peripheral surface of eachshaft 16 is formed by a curved surface (a cylindrical surface) 16A,which is curved at a uniform radius of curvature. Each shaft 16 has anouter diameter that is slightly smaller than the interval i3 (FIG. 5B)between the two lateral wall surfaces 24 of each guide groove 22. Theshaft 16 linearly contacts the lateral wall surfaces 24 by means of thecurved surface 16A while maintaining the original shape (the columnarshape), or, in other words, substantially without elastically deforming.

The distance D1 (FIG. 5A) from the distal end of one of the shafts 16 ofeach slat 15 to the distal end of the other shaft 16 is set to a valueslightly smaller than the interval i1 (FIG. 5B) between the verticalwall surfaces 23 of the two opposing guide grooves 22. In thisconfiguration, the two shafts 16 of each slat 15 are spaced from thevertical wall surfaces 23 of the corresponding guide grooves 22 at aslight interval (which is, in the first embodiment, approximately 1 mm).

The slats 15 and the shafts 16 are each configured by a hard portion HPformed of hard material and a soft portion SP formed of soft materialarranged around the hard portion HP. The hard material may be, forexample, hard resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenepolymer) or polypropylene. The soft material may be, for example,different types of elastomers such as polyester elastomers orpolypropylene elastomers. The slats 15 and the shafts 16 each have acore portion (a skeleton portion) formed by the hard portion HP. Thehard portions HP thus ensure rigidity and strength necessary for theroller shutter 14. The slats 15 and the shafts 16 each have a surfacelayer portion formed by the soft portion SP. The hinges 17 are alsoformed by the soft portions SP. The soft portions SP thus provideflexibility and bendability for the roller shutter 14.

The slats 15 and the shafts 16, which are configured by the hardportions HP and the soft portions SP, are manufactured by, for example,a two-color molding.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foremost one of the slats 15 has aforward-rearward dimension greater than the corresponding dimension ofthe other slats 15. The foremost slat 15 has a holding portion 18, whichis for a user to hold with the user's fingers and operate the rollershutter 14 to slide.

The roller shutter 14, which is formed by joining the slats 15 together,has a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. As theshafts 16 of each slat 15 slide in the corresponding guide grooves 22,the roller shutter 14 slides between an open position (not shown) and aclose position (FIG. 1). When arranged at the open position, the rollershutter 14 is received in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 toopen the opening 12. When at the close position, the roller shutter 14extends out from the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 to closethe opening 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG. 7, each shaft 16 has aprojection 27 projecting outward in the widthwise direction. Thedistance D3 (FIG. 5A) from the distal end of one of the two projections27 of each slat 15 to the distal end of the other projection 27 is setto a value greater than the interval i1 (FIG. 5B) between the twovertical wall surfaces 23. The projections 27 contact the correspondingvertical wall surfaces 23 in an elastically deformed shape (FIGS. 3 and8). The projections 27 are formed of the same type of soft material(elastomer) as the aforementioned material of each soft portion SPintegrally with the corresponding soft portions SP. In the firstembodiment, each of the projections 27 has a round rod-like shapeextending linearly outward from the associated one of the shafts 16 inthe widthwise direction before elastic deformation and exhibits improvedflexibility. Each projection 27 has the outer diameter D2 (FIG. 4),which is substantially uniform (in the first embodiment, approximately 1mm) throughout the entire portion of the projection 27 in thelongitudinal direction thereof. It is preferable to set the length L1(FIG. 4) of each projection 27 to a value that is 1.5 times as great asthe interval i2 (FIG. 3) between each shaft 16 and the vertical wallsurface 23 of the corresponding guide groove 22 or greater. In the firstembodiment, the interval i2 is approximately 1 mm and the length L1 ofeach projection 27 is approximately 3 mm. Each projection 27 contactsthe corresponding vertical wall surface 23 while held in a stateflexibly bent at the boundary portion (the basal portion) of theprojection 27 with respect to the associated shaft 16.

Grease is applied onto the vertical wall surface 23 and the two lateralwall surfaces 24 of each guide groove 22. The grease on each verticalwall surface 23 decreases friction between the corresponding projection27 and the vertical wall surface 23 when the roller shutter 14 slides.The grease on each lateral wall surface 24 reduces friction between thecorresponding shaft 16 and the lateral wall surface 24 when the rollershutter 14 slides.

Operation of the roller shutter type storage container 10 of the firstembodiment, which is configured as described above, will hereafter bedescribed.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, in the roller shutter type storagecontainer 10, each shaft 16 linearly contacts the lateral wall surfaces24 of the corresponding guide groove 22 by means of the outer peripheralsurface of the shaft 16, which is formed by the curved surface 16A,substantially without elastically deforming. Each shaft 16 is spacedfrom the vertical wall surface 23 of the corresponding guide groove 22at the predetermined interval i2 (approximately 1 mm). Each projection27, which has the rod-like shape extending outward from the associatedshaft 16 in the widthwise direction, linearly contacts the correspondingvertical wall surface 23 in a flexibly bent state at the boundaryportion of the projection 27 with respect to the shaft 16. Eachprojection 27 produces such a force (elastic shape restoration force)that the projection 27 restores its original shape (the straightextending rod-like shape), which extends linearly from the shaft 16 inan outward direction in the widthwise direction. The projection 27 isthus pressed against the vertical wall surface 23.

When an object or item is to be placed in or removed from the containerbody 11, the roller shutter 14 is operated to slide between the openposition (not shown) at which the roller shutter 14 is accommodated inthe roller shutter accommodating portion 13 to open the opening 12 andthe close position (FIG. 1) at which the roller shutter 14 extends outfrom the roller shutter accommodating portion 13 to close the opening12. In this state, the shafts 16 of each slat 15 slide in thecorresponding guide grooves 22. Specifically, when the shafts 16 slidein the corresponding guide grooves 22 while being guided by the guidegrooves 22, the roller shutter 14 is caused to slide to selectively openand close the opening 12. At this stage, each shaft 16 slides on thecorresponding lateral wall surfaces 24 by means of the curved surface16A, or, in other words, the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 16.The sliding resistance between the shaft 16 and each lateral wallsurface 24 is thus small. The load on sliding operation of the rollershutter 14, which is operational load, is caused mainly by the slidingresistance between each projection 27 and the vertical wall surface 23of the corresponding guide groove 22 when the roller shutter 14 slides.

For a case in which the projection 27 projecting from each shaft 16 isheld in contact with the lateral wall surfaces 24 (as in the case of theconventional technique), the sliding resistance between the projection27 and each lateral wall surface 24 increases in the curved portion 26of the corresponding guide groove 22 compared to the sliding resistancein the linear portion 25 of the guide groove 22. Such increase of thesliding resistance is caused by each elastically deformed projection 27that slides on the lateral wall surfaces 24 in a manner following thecurved shape of each lateral wall surface 24. The sliding resistance inthe curved portion 26 becomes greater as the radius of curvature of thecurved portion 26 becomes greater. This increases the operational loadwhen the shafts 16 slide in the curved portions of the correspondingguide grooves 22 in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13,compared to when the shafts 16 slide in the linear portions of the guidegrooves 22 in the opening 12. As a result, operational sensation isdeteriorated.

In contrast, in the first embodiment, the projections 27, each of whichis to restore its original shape from the flexibly bent shape, slide onthe corresponding vertical wall surfaces 23. Unlike the lateral wallsurfaces 24, each vertical wall surface 23 is non-curved and flat. Thisprevents the increase of the sliding resistance that is caused by theelastically deformed projections 27 that slide on the curved portions ofthe lateral wall surfaces 24. Specifically, in the curved portions ofthe guide grooves 22 in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13, thesliding resistance in the case in which the projections 27 slide on thevertical wall surfaces 23 is smaller than the sliding resistance in thecase in which the projections 27 slide on the lateral wall surfaces 24.As a result, the operational load is prevented from being increased whenthe shafts 16 slide in the curved portions of the guide grooves 22 inthe roller shutter accommodating portion 13 compared to when the shafts16 slide in the linear portions of the guide grooves 22 in the opening12.

In the wall surfaces of each guide groove 22, the vertical wall surface23, which is held in contact with the projections 27 maintained in theelastically deformed states, is flat regardless of the radius ofcurvature of each lateral wall surface 24. This ensures theabove-described operation regardless of the radius of curvature of thecurved portion 26 of the guide groove 22. In this regard, the firstembodiment is greatly different from the case (the conventionaltechnique) in which the projections 27 projecting from the shafts 16contact the curved portions of the lateral wall surfaces 24 and thesliding resistance becomes greater as the radius of curvature of thecurved portions become greater. As a result, effectiveness of the firstembodiment over the conventional technique becomes more pronounced asthe radius of curvature of the curved portion 26 of each guide groove 22becomes greater.

The first embodiment, which has been described in detail, has theadvantages described below.

(1) In the roller shutter type storage container 10 in which the portionof each guide groove 22 in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13is curved substantially as a whole (FIG. 6), each shaft 16 is spacedfrom the vertical wall surface 23 of the corresponding guide groove 22(FIG. 3). The shafts 16 each include the projection 27, which is formedof the soft material and projects from the associated shaft 16 outwardin the widthwise direction. Each projection 27 contacts the verticalwall surface 23 in the elastically deformed state, or, in other words,the flexibly bent state (FIG. 8).

This prevents the sliding resistance produced between each projection 27and the wall surface of the corresponding guide groove 22 from beingincreased in the curved portion 26 in the roller shutter accommodatingportion 13. The operational load is thus prevented from being increasedwhen the shafts 16 slide in the curved portions of the guide grooves 22in the roller shutter accommodating portion 13. This stabilizes theoperational load when the roller shutter 14 is operated to slideregardless of the position of each shaft 16 in the corresponding guidegroove 22, thus improving the operational sensation.

This advantage becomes more pronounced as the radius of curvature ofeach guide groove 22 of the roller shutter type storage container 10becomes greater.

(2) Each projection 27 is formed in the rod-like shape extending fromthe associated shaft 16 outward in the widthwise direction (FIG. 7).

As a result, by causing the projections 27 to linearly contact thecorresponding vertical wall surfaces 23 each in a flexibly bent state(FIG. 8) and slide on the vertical wall surfaces 23 as the rollershutter 14 slides, operational load on the roller shutter 14 is producedin a simple manner.

(3) The length L1 of each projection 27 is set to the value that is 1.5times as great as the interval i2 between each shaft 16 and the verticalwall surface 23 of the corresponding guide groove 22 or greater (FIGS. 3and 4).

This allows the projections 27 to linearly contact the correspondingvertical wall surfaces 23 each in the flexibly bent state, thus causingan appropriate level of sliding resistance between each projection 27and the corresponding vertical wall surface 23 when the shafts 16 slidein the guide grooves 22. As a result, the advantage (2) is reliablybrought about.

(4) By changing at least one of the outer diameter D2 and the length L1in each projection 27 in FIG. 4, the operational load is easilyadjusted.

Second Embodiment

A roller shutter type storage container according to a second embodimentof the present invention will hereafter be described with reference toFIGS. 9 to 11.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in terms ofthe shape of each shaft 16 and the configuration of a projection 31.

In the first embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of each shaft 16as a whole is configured by the curved surface 16A (FIG. 7).Contrastingly, in the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, theportions of each shaft 16 that contact the lateral wall surfaces 24 ofthe corresponding guide groove 22, which are two opposing portions, areeach formed by a curved surface 16B. In the outer peripheral surface ofeach shaft 16, the two portions between the two curved surfaces 16B areconfigured by opposing parallel flat surfaces 16C.

With reference to FIG. 10B, unlike the projections 27 of the firstembodiment having a rod-like shape, each of the projections 31 of thesecond embodiment is configured by a plate-like portion 32 and a hollowportion 33. The plate-like portion 32 is connected to the shaft 16 attwo ends 32E in the aforementioned extending dimension, that is, theforward-rearward direction. The plate-like portion 32 has asubstantially arcuate shape as viewed from above before beingelastically deformed in such a manner that the plate-like portion 32becomes more spaced from the shaft 16 in the arrangement direction,which is the forward-rearward direction, at positions more separatedfrom the ends 32E. The plate-like portion 32 is most spaced from theshaft 16 at the center of the plate-like portion 32 in the arrangementdirection, or the forward-rearward direction. The hollow portion 33 isformed by the space between the shaft 16 and the plate-like portion 32and facilitates elastic deformation of the plate-like portion 32.

Same or like reference numerals are given to portions and components ofthe second embodiment that are the same or like corresponding portionsand corresponding components of the first embodiment. Detaileddescription of the portions and components will be omitted herein.

To place or remove an object in or from the container body 11 of theroller shutter type storage container 10 of the second embodiment, whichis configured as described above, the roller shutter 14 is operated toslide in the same manner as the first embodiment.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in thateach plate-like portion 32, which extends from the associated shaft 16outward in the widthwise direction, flexes toward the shaft 16 in theportions of the plate-like portion 32 other than the two ends 32E, thuscontacting the corresponding vertical wall surface 23 in an elasticallydeformed state and by a greater contact surface area (FIG. 11). As theroller shutter 14 slides, the plate-like portion 32, which is to restoreits original shape (the substantially arcuate shape as viewed fromabove), slides on the vertical wall surface 23. This generates anappropriate level of sliding resistance between each projection 31 andthe vertical wall surface 23, thus producing operational load on theroller shutter 14 in a desirable manner.

As a result, the second embodiment has advantages similar to those ofthe first embodiment despite the fact that the projections 31elastically deform in the different manner from that of the firstembodiment. Also, the second embodiment has the advantages describedbelow instead of the advantages (2) and (3).

(5) Each projection 31 is configured by the plate-like portion 32, whichis connected to the associated shaft 16 at the two ends 32E in thearrangement direction of the container body 11 and the roller shutteraccommodating portion 13, which is the forward-rearward direction, andthe hollow portion 33 between the shaft 16 and the plate-like portion 32(FIG. 10A).

Each plate-like portion 32 flexes toward the associated shaft 16 tocontact the corresponding vertical wall surface 23 by a comparativelygreater contact surface area (FIG. 11). In this state, the projections31 are caused to slide on the corresponding vertical wall surfaces 23 asthe roller shutter 14 slides. As a result, the operational load on theroller shutter 14 is produced in a simple manner.

Third Embodiment

A roller shutter type storage container according to a third embodimentof the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.12.

In the third embodiment, the lateral wall surfaces 24 of the guidegrooves 22 are subjected to surface roughening to increase surfaceroughness, or, in other words, form rough surfaces. As the surfaceroughening, honing or graining, for example, is employed. After thesurface roughening, grease is applied on the lateral wall surfaces 24.

The configuration of the components other than the lateral wall surfaces24 of the third embodiment is identical to the correspondingconfiguration of the first embodiment. Same or like reference numeralsare given to portions and components of the third embodiment that arethe same as or like corresponding portions and components of the firstembodiment. Detailed description of the portions and components areomitted herein.

In the configuration in which the shafts 16 slide in the guide grooves22, the shafts 16 must slide repeatedly as the roller shutter 14 slides.This decreases the grease between the shafts 16 and the lateral wallsurfaces 24 of the guide grooves 22. The shafts 16 thus may directlycontact the lateral wall surfaces 24 and slide, producing noise(friction noise).

However, since the lateral wall surfaces 24 are formed rough in thethird embodiment, the contact surface area between each shaft 16 and theassociated lateral wall surface 24 is small compared to the case inwhich the lateral wall surfaces 24 are mirror surfaces. As a result,even after the grease decreases through sliding of the shafts 16, eachlateral wall surface 24 contacts the associated shafts 16 each by areduced contact surface area. This reduces the noise caused by slidingof the shafts 16.

In the lateral wall surfaces 24 having the roughness increased throughthe surface roughening, some of the grease is received in small-sizedrecesses. The grease does not easily separate from the recesses. Thisimproves grease holding performance compared to the case in which thelateral wall surfaces 24 are formed as mirror surfaces.

The third embodiment has the advantage described below in addition toadvantages similar to the advantages (1) to (4).

(6) The lateral wall surfaces 24 of the guide grooves 22 are subjectedto the surface roughening and the grease is applied on the lateral wallsurfaces 24 (FIG. 12).

This decreases the surface contact area between each lateral wallsurface 24 and each shaft 16, thus decreasing the noise caused throughsliding of the shafts 16.

The grease holding performance of the lateral wall surfaces 24 is alsoenhanced, thus prolonging the time of lubrication with grease, andimproving durability.

Fourth Embodiment

A roller shutter type storage container according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention will hereafter be described with reference toFIGS. 13 to 19.

First, the background of the characteristics of the fourth embodimentwill be described.

As has been described, in the roller shutter type storage container 10of the first to third embodiments, the roller shutter 14 is operated toslide between the open position and the close position in such a manneras to selectively open and close the opening 12. In this state, movementof each one of the slats 15 along the guide grooves 22 is transmitted tothe adjacent one of the slats 15 through the hinge 17 (FIG. 7). Also, inthis state, the shafts 16 of each slat 15 slide in the correspondingguide grooves 22. Specifically, the shafts 16 are guided by the guidegrooves 22 and slide in the guide grooves 22, thus allowing the rollershutter 14 to slide and selectively open and close the opening 12.

In the roller shutter type storage container 10 of the first to thirdembodiments, to allow the roller shutter 14 to slide, a clearance isformed between each shaft 16 and the corresponding one of the twolateral wall surfaces 24 of the corresponding guide groove 22.

The roller shutter type storage container 10 of the first to thirdembodiments satisfies the condition 1, which is described below.

Condition 1: Each adjacent pair of the slats 15 are connected togetherthrough the corresponding hinge 17, which is arranged in the vicinity ofthe ornamental surface (the upper surface) of the roller shutter 14 inthe thickness direction (a substantially upward-downward direction asviewed in FIG. 7). The hinges 17 are located between the shafts 16 ofthe slats 15 and the ornamental surface. The shafts 16 of each slat 15are arranged at the side spaced from the hinge 17 in the thicknessdirection (at a substantially lower side as viewed in FIG. 7).

When the roller shutter 14 is operated to slide in the roller shuttertype storage container 10 that meets the condition 1, each shaft 16vibrates in the corresponding guide groove 22 and thus contacts andseparates from the lateral wall surfaces 24 of the guide groove 22. Thismay cause noise (rattling noise). Such noise occurs more often in thelinear portion 25 of each guide groove 22 than in the curved portion 26.Specifically, when each shaft 16 slides in the curved portion 26, theshaft 16 tends to be pressed against one of the lateral wall surfaces24. In contrast, when the shaft 16 slides in the linear portion 25, theshaft 16 does not tend to be pressed against only one of the lateralwall surfaces 24 unlike the case of the curved portion 26.

The noise (the rattling noise) may be generated not only in the rollershutter type storage container 10 having the projections 27 projectingfrom the shafts 16, but also in a roller shutter type storage containerwithout projections 27.

Noise (the rattling noise) may be prevented from being generated byarranging the hinges 17 and the shafts 16 each at a central position inthe thickness direction of the roller shutter 14 (the upward-downwarddirection in FIG. 18). In other words, the noise (the rattling noise)may be reduced by arranging the hinges 17 and the shafts 16 on a lineextending along the arrangement direction of the container body 11 andthe roller shutter accommodating portion 13.

Specifically, movement of each one of the slats 15 along the guidegrooves 22 is transmitted to the adjacent one of the slats 15 throughthe shafts 16 of the slat 15, the hinge 17 between the two slats 15, andthe shafts 16 of the adjacent slat 15. In this state, moment acting torotate the slats 15 about the hinge 17 acting as a fulcrum is not easilyproduced. This prevents the shafts 16 from vibrating in the guidegrooves 22.

When the hinges 17 and the shafts 16 are arranged at the centralpositions in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14 as in theabove-described case (FIG. 18), a gap 42 between an upper surface 41A ofa cover (an ornamental panel) 41 covering the guide grooves 22 fromabove and an ornamental surface 14A of the roller shutter 14 isenlarged. Specifically, as the shafts 16 are arranged at the centralpositions in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14, theinterval i4 between the ornamental surface 14A of the roller shutter 14and each shaft 16 is reduced. Accordingly, with the shafts 16 engagedwith the corresponding guide grooves 22, the height of the ornamentalsurface 14A is decreased and the interval i5 between the upper surface41A of the cover (the ornamental panel) 41 and the ornamental surface14A is increased. The increased interval i5 enlarges the gap 42 to agreat extent, thus deteriorating the appearance of the roller shuttertype storage container 10.

In the first to third embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the hinges17 are arranged in the vicinity of the ornamental surface 14A in thethickness direction of the roller shutter 14 (the upward-downwarddirection in FIG. 17) and the shafts 16 are arranged at the side spacedfrom the hinges 17 in the aforementioned direction (at a lower side inFIG. 17). This arrangement increases the interval i4 between theornamental surface 14A of the roller shutter 14 and each shaft 16.Accordingly, with the shafts 16 engaged with the guide grooves 22, theposition of the ornamental surface 14A is raised and thus the intervali5 between the upper surface 41A of the cover (the ornamental panel) 41and the ornamental surface 14A is reduced. The gap 42 is thus reduced insize correspondingly and the appearance of the roller shutter typestorage container 10 improves.

Considering the above-described background, the fourth embodimentemploys a configuration that ensures the advantages of theabove-described roller shutter type storage container 10, in which thehinges 17 are arranged in the vicinity of the ornamental surface 14A inthe thickness direction of the roller shutter 14 and the shafts 16 arelocated at the side spaced from the hinges 17, and prevents generationof noise (rattling noise).

In the description of the first to third embodiments, detaileddescription of arrangement of the hinges 17 and the shafts 16 has beenomitted. In the fourth embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 19, eachadjacent pair of the slats 15 are connected together through thecorresponding one of the hinges 17 as in the first to third embodiments.The hinges 17 are arranged in the vicinity of the ornamental surface 14Ain the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14 (the upward-downwarddirection in FIG. 19). More specifically, the hinges 17 are arranged atpositions spaced slightly downward from the ornamental surface 14A (theupper surface in FIG. 19). The thickness of each hinge 17 is smallerthan the thicknesses of the other portions of each slat 15.

The shafts 16 of each slat 15 are arranged at the side spaced from thehinges 17 in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14 (at alower side in FIG. 19). Each shaft 16 is located at a position separateddownward from the central position in the aforementioned thicknessdirection, which is, in the fourth embodiment, a position closer to alower portion of the slat 15.

With reference to FIGS. 13 to 16, a flat plate-like rib 43, which isformed of soft material as in the case of the soft portions SP andrestricts movement of the corresponding shafts 16 of the slats 15, isarranged between each one of the slats 15 and each of adjacent slat 15.With reference to FIG. 14, the ribs 43 are formed for all adjacent pairsof the slats 15. One pair of the ribs 43 are provided for each adjacentpair of the slats 15. The ribs 43 are arranged at both ends of each ofthe corresponding slats 15 in the widthwise direction and located in thevicinity of the corresponding shaft 16.

Each rib 43 is formed integrally with the corresponding soft portion SPof the roller shutter 14. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the thickness T1 ofeach rib 43 in the widthwise direction is set to a small value. Suchsmall thickness T1 and the soft material forming the ribs 43 allow therib 43 to elastically deform in the widthwise direction as representedby the lines formed by a long dash alternating with two short dashes inFIG. 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, each rib 43 is located at least incorrespondence with the space between the axes L2 of the correspondingshafts 16 and the associated hinge 17 in the thickness direction of theroller shutter 14 (the upward-downward direction in FIG. 19). In thefourth embodiment, the ribs 43 are extended to the side spaced from thehinges 17 compared to the axes L2 of the shafts 16 (a lower side inFIGS. 16 and 19) in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14. Asviewed in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14, the ribs 43are formed in correspondence with the entire portions of the slats 15.

In FIG. 19, the line formed by a long dash alternating with one shortdash represented by the reference numeral L3 is a line connecting theaxes L2 of the adjacent shafts 16 in the forward-rearward direction. Thesame line L3 is used for illustrations of FIGS. 20 and 21, which will bedescribed later.

Except for the above-described configuration, the fourth embodiment isthe same as the first and third embodiments. Same or like referencenumerals are given to portions and components of the fourth embodimentthat are the same as or like corresponding portions and components ofthe first and third embodiments. Detailed description of the portionsand components is omitted herein.

In the fourth embodiment configured as described above, when the rollershutter 14 is operated to slide, movement of each slat 15 along theguide grooves 22 is transmitted to the corresponding adjacent slat 15through the associated hinge 17 as illustrated in FIG. 19. At thisstage, the shafts 16 of each slat 15 slide in the corresponding guidegrooves 22. In other words, as the shafts 16 are guided by the guidegrooves 22 and slide in the guide grooves 22, the roller shutter 14 iscaused to slide and selectively opens and closes the opening 12.

As has been described, in the roller shutter type storage container 10that satisfies the aforementioned condition 1 and does not include ribs43, moment acting to rotate each slat 15 about the associated hinge 17acting as a fulcrum may be produced when the roller shutter 14 isoperated to slide.

However, in the fourth embodiment, the ribs 43 exist between eachadjacent pair of the slats 15 and restrict movement (vibration) of thecorresponding shafts 16. This prevents each shaft 16 from contacting andseparating from the lateral wall surfaces 24 of the corresponding guidegroove 22.

Particularly in the fourth embodiment, in each adjacent pair of theslats 15 that are arranged adjacently through the corresponding ribs 43,a portion of each rib 43 is arranged in the space between the axes L2 ofthe corresponding adjacent shafts 16. The portion of the rib 43 betweenthe axes L2 transmits movement along the guide groove 22 between theshafts 16. This prevents the moment acting to rotate the slat 15 aboutthe hinge 17 acting as a fulcrum from being produced. Vibration of theshafts 16 in the corresponding guide grooves 22 is thus decreased andthe shafts 16 are reliably prevented from contacting and separating fromthe lateral wall surfaces 24 of the guide grooves 22.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, each rib 43 has a portion located inthe space between the axes L2 of the corresponding shafts 16 and theassociated hinge 17 and the portion in the space spaced from the hinge17 compared to the axes L2 (a lower side in FIG. 19). These portions ofthe rib 43 further restrict movement (vibration) of the shafts 16.

Specifically, each rib 43 is formed of the soft material and in a thinplate-like shape and elastically deformable as represented by the linesformed by a long dash alternating with two short dashes in FIG. 15. Suchelastic deformation restricts the extent to which the ribs 43 reducebendability (flexibility) of the roller shutter 14.

The fourth embodiment has the advantages described below in addition tothe advantages similar to the above-described advantages (1) to (4) and(6).

(7) In the roller shutter type storage container 10 having the hinges 17and the shafts 16 satisfying the aforementioned condition 1 in theroller shutter 14, the ribs 43, which are formed of soft material andrestrict movement of the shafts 16, are arranged between each adjacentpair of the slats 15 (FIG. 15).

This decreases the interval i5 (the gap 42) between the upper surface41A of the cover (the ornamental panel) 41 and the ornamental surface14A of the roller shutter 14, thus improving the appearance of theroller shutter type storage container 10 (FIG. 17). The ribs 43 alsoprevent the shafts 16 from vibrating in the guide grooves 22, thuspreventing generation of noise (rattling noise) caused throughvibration. The ribs 43 decrease the flexibility of the roller shutter 14only to a limited extent.

(8) The ribs 43 are provided for all adjacent pairs of the slats 15.Each pair of the ribs 43 are arranged between the corresponding adjacentpair of the slats 15 (FIG. 14).

This restricts vibration of the shafts 16 of all adjacent pairs of theslats 15 in the guide grooves 22, thus preventing generation of noise(rattling noise).

(9) The ribs 43 are arranged between each adjacent pair of the slats 15and at the ends of the adjacent slats 15 in the widthwise direction(FIG. 15).

This arrangement efficiently restricts vibration of the shafts 16 in theguide grooves 22 at positions in the vicinities of the shafts 16.

(10) The thickness T1 of each rib 43 is set to a small value. In otherwords, the ribs 43 are formed thin (FIG. 16).

In addition to the soft material forming each rib 43, the smallthickness T1 of the rib 43 facilitates the elastic deformation of therib 43 as represented by the lines formed by a long dash alternatingwith two short dashes in FIG. 15. As a result, the extent to which theribs 43 decrease the flexibility of the roller shutter 14 is furtherlimited.

(11) A portion of each rib 43 is arranged in the space between the axesL2 of the corresponding shafts 16 and the associated hinge 17 in thethickness direction of the roller shutter 14 (FIG. 19).

Each rib 43 between the corresponding adjacent axes L2 transmitsmovement along the guide groove 22 between the corresponding shafts 16,thus preventing the moment acting to rotate the corresponding slats 15about the hinge 17 acting as a fulcrum. The shafts 16 are thus preventedfrom vibrating in the guide grooves 22. As a result, generation of noise(rattling noise) is further reliably prevented.

(12) Each rib 43 has a portion arranged in the space spaced from thecorresponding hinge 17 compared to the axes L2 of the associated shafts16 in the thickness direction of the roller shutter 14, in addition tothe portion described in the advantage (11) (FIG. 19).

As a result, since each rib 43 is extended to the side spaced from thecorresponding hinge 17 with respect to the portion described in theadvantage (11), movement of the corresponding shafts 16 is restrictedeffectively compared to an effect caused by the portion of the advantage(11) solely. This further reliably ensures the effect of preventing thegeneration of noise (rattling noise).

The present invention may be embodied in other forms as will bedescribed.

Each hard portion HP may be formed of a hard material different from thehard material employed in the illustrated embodiments. Each soft portionSP may be formed of a soft material different from the soft materialused in the illustrated embodiments.

In the first, third, and fourth embodiments, as long as the length L1 ofeach rod-like projection 27 (FIG. 4) is 1.5 times as great as theinterval i2 between each shaft 16 and the vertical wall surface 23 ofthe corresponding guide groove 22 (FIG. 3) or greater, the interval i2and the length L1 may be changed as needed.

In the first, third, and fourth embodiments, each rod-like projection 27may flex in a manner bent at a middle portion in the longitudinaldirection thereof (the aforementioned widthwise direction), thuscontacting the corresponding vertical wall surface 23 in an elasticallydeformed state.

The second embodiment may employ the configuration of the thirdembodiment in which the lateral wall surfaces 24 are subjected to thesurface roughening.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the surface roughening may beperformed on not only the lateral wall surfaces 24 of each guide groove22 but also the vertical wall surface 23 of the guide groove 22.

The present invention may be a type of roller shutter type storagecontainer different from the type (corresponding to the first to fourthembodiments) having the opening 12 formed at the upper end of thecontainer body 11 and the roller shutter 14 that slides in a horizontaldirection. For example, the invention may be used in a type of rollershutter type storage container having an opening formed at the rear endof a container body and a roller shutter that slides in a verticaldirection (an upward-downward direction). The invention may be used alsoin a type of roller shutter type storage container having a rollershutter that slides in a direction diagonally crossing a verticalsurface or a horizontal surface.

Each guide groove 22 must include at least one curved portion in theroller shutter accommodating portion 13. That is, unlike the first tofourth embodiments, only a portion of each guide groove 22 may be curvedin the roller shutter accommodating portion 13.

The projections 27 in the first, third, and fourth embodiments and theprojections 31 in the second embodiment may be formed by independentmembers from the corresponding shafts 16.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the shafts 16 and the projections27, 31 may be omitted from some of the slats 15.

In the first to fourth embodiments, some of the shafts 16 may be formedwithout a projection 27, 31.

For example, in a slat 15, a projection 27, 31 may be formed in one ofthe shafts 16 but not the other one of the shafts 16.

In this case, each adjacent pair of the slats 15 may be arranged in sucha manner that the shaft 16 having the projection 27, 31 and the shaft 16without a projection 27, 31 are located at mutually opposing sides. Inthis arrangement, the projections 27, 31 are arranged alternately in theshafts 16 sliding in the same one of the guide grooves 22. Also, for theshafts 16 sliding in one of the guide grooves 22 and the shafts 16sliding in the other guide groove 22, the shafts 16 each having theprojection 27, 31 and the shafts 16 without a projection 27, 31 arearranged at mutually opposing sides.

In the second embodiment, a rib 43 similar to those in the fourthembodiment may be arranged between each adjacent pair of the slats 15.

Description about generation of noise (the rattling noise) in the fourthembodiment has been based on the assumption that the shafts exist.However, as long as the roller shutter type storage container 10 has thehinges 17 and the shafts 16 that satisfy the condition 1, such noisegeneration may occur not only in the type having the projections 31projecting from the shafts 16 but also in a type without such aprojection.

Accordingly, arranging a rib 43 between each slat 15 and at least one ofthe corresponding adjacent slats 15 may be effective not only in thetype of the roller shutter type storage container 10 having theprojections 27 projecting from the shafts 16, but also a type withoutsuch a projection.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, each rib 43 in the fourth embodiment may bearranged only in the space between the corresponding hinge 17 and theaxes L2 of the associated shafts 16 in the thickness direction of theroller shutter 14 (the upward-downward direction in FIG. 20).

As illustrated in FIG. 21, in the roller shutter 14 according to thefourth embodiment, a rib 43 may be formed between each slat 15 and onlyone of the corresponding adjacent slats 15. In other words, no rib 43 isprovided in the space between the slat 15 and the other one of theadjacent slats 15.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 22, adjacent pairs of the slats 15may include pairs each having the ribs 43 at both sides in the widthwisedirection and pairs that do not have a rib at either side.

Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 23, the adjacent pairs of theslats 15 may include pairs each having a rib 43 only at one side in thewidthwise direction and pairs each having a rib 43 only at the oppositeside in the widthwise direction.

The ribs 43 may be arranged at positions different from the ends in thewidthwise direction in the space between each adjacent pair of the slats15.

The ribs 43 may be formed independently from the soft portions SP of theroller shutter 14.

The present invention is usable also in a roller shutter type storagecontainer incorporated in a member different from a center console in avehicle.

Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limitedto the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope andequivalence of the appended claims.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A roller shutter storage container comprising: acontainer body having an opening; a roller shutter accommodating portionarranged along a first direction so as to be adjacent to the containerbody; a pair of guide grooves formed in the opening of the containerbody and the roller shutter accommodating portion at both sides in thewidthwise direction, which is a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction, each of the guide grooves forming a straight shape inthe opening, at least a portion of each guide groove being curved in theroller shutter accommodating portion, the guide grooves extending alongthe first direction; and a roller shutter guided by the two guidegrooves, wherein the roller shutter includes a plurality of slatsarranged along the first direction and connected together in a bendablemanner, each of the slats having two ends in the second direction andshafts at the ends, as the shafts of each of the slats slide in thecorresponding guide grooves, the roller shutter slides between an openposition, at which the roller shutter is accommodated in the rollershutter accommodating portion to open the opening, and a close position,at which the roller shutter extends out from the roller shutteraccommodating portion to close the opening, each of the guide grooveshas a vertical wall surface extending in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the second direction, and each one of the shafts isspaced from the corresponding one of the vertical wall surfaces, theshafts of at least some of the slats having projections formed of softmaterial and projecting outward along the second direction, each of theprojections being held in contact with the corresponding vertical wallsurface in an elastically deformed state, the roller shutter has anornamental surface with respect to the thickness direction of the rollershutter, each adjacent pair of the slats is connected together through ahinge located at a position proximal to the ornamental surface, each ofthe shafts is located at a position separated by a predetermineddistance from the hinge in the thickness direction of the rollershutter, and a rib formed of soft material is arranged between each oneof the slats and at least one of the two adjacent slats, the ribrestricts movement of the shafts of the corresponding slats bypreventing movement acting to rotate the corresponding slats about thehinge as a fulcrum from being produced.
 12. The roller shutter storagecontainer according to claim 11, wherein, before being elasticallydeformed, each of the projections is shaped like a rod and projectsoutward along the second direction from the corresponding one of theshafts.
 13. The roller shutter storage container according to claim 12,wherein the length of each projection is set to a value that is 1.5times as great as the interval between each shaft and the vertical wallsurface of the corresponding guide groove or greater.
 14. The rollershutter storage container according to claim 11, wherein each projectionhas two ends in the first direction and a plate-like portion connectedto the associated shaft at the two ends, and a hollow portion is formedbetween the shaft and the plate-like portion.
 15. The roller shutterstorage container according to claim 14, wherein, before beingelastically deformed, the plate-like portion of each projection iscurved substantially in such an arcuate shape that the plate-likeportion becomes more spaced from the associated shaft at positions moreseparate from the two ends of the projection.
 16. The roller shutterstorage container according to claim 11, wherein each guide groove has apair of opposing lateral wall surfaces each extending substantiallyperpendicular to the associated vertical wall surface, and surfaceroughening is performed on the lateral wall surfaces to increase surfaceroughness of the lateral wall surfaces, with grease being applied on thelateral wall surfaces.
 17. The roller shutter storage containeraccording to claim 11, wherein the rib extends in the thicknessdirection of the roller shutter at least at a position between the axesof the corresponding shafts and the hinge.
 18. The roller shutterstorage container according to claim 11, wherein the rib extends to aposition farther from the hinge than the axes of the shafts with respectto the thickness direction of the roller shutter.